Drive to the far end of the service area, following signs to Jimmy Leeds Rd.

Turn right on Jimmy Leeds Rd. and take it about 0.4 miles.

Go left onto Great Creek Rd., and follow it to Route 9.

Turn left and take Route 9 north to the Chestnut Neck Boat Yard.

Drive through the marina and meet by the boat launch at 7 a.m.

BARNEGAT LIGHT/MANAHAWKIN

Trip starts at Barnegat Light and caravans to Manahawkin at the end of the day

Exit the Garden State Parkway at Exit 63 (Manahawkin), head east on Rt. 72 for 7 miles, and cross over the Barnegat Bay Bridge onto Long Beach Island.

At the third and last traffic light after crossing the bridge, turn left and head north on Long Beach Boulevard for approximately 8 miles, where you will see the lighthouse. The road name changes to Central Ave.

At the end of the road, turn left and follow the road around to the entrance to the state park on the right.

BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST

From northern New Jersey, take the Garden State Parkway south to Exit 17.

At the stop sign, make a left turn onto Sea Isle Blvd.

Go a short distance to the 1st traffic light and make a right turn onto Rt. 9 north.

Take Route 9 north a short distance to Route 550 (Woodbine-Ocean View Road).

Make a left onto Route 550 west and go approximately six miles into the town of Woodbine.

Continue on Rt. 550 west through town (turning left at Washington Avenue and right at Webster Street).

In about a mile you should see signs for the Belleplain State Forest headquarters on the left. Turn here and go to the Headquarters building, where we will meet. There are restrooms and a park map here.

BOMBAY HOOK WEEKEND - AUG. 13-14, 2010

Directions:

Take the NJ Turnpike south across the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

Continue I-95 South into Delaware to Route 1 South (Christiana exit).

Take Route 1 (toll road $1) to Exit 114 (Route 13 North to Smyrna; turn right at the end of the exit ramp.)

Turn right at the next light onto Route 12 East (Smyrna-Leipsic Road).

Stay on Route 12 (approximately 5 miles) until it merges with Route 9.

Go approximately one quarter of a mile on Route 9 and take the first left, onto Whitehall Neck Rd . (brown sign on right).

Whitehall Neck Rd. will deadend on Bombay Hook NWR.   Follow this road to the refuge headquarters, the meeting point for the field trip on both Friday and Saturday (9:30 a.m.).

Motels:

Participants need to make their own motel reservations.  It is advisable to do this very early, as rooms can fill up quickly in the Dover, DE area.
 

CHESTNUT BRANCH PARK

Take I-295 to Exit 21. Take Delaware Street (County Road 534 ) into Woodbury to Route 45 (Broad StTurn right onto Route 45 and go 4.2 miles to Route 553 Alt (Main St). Go south on Route 533 Alt. for 1.6 miles to the park entrance on your left. There are several large parking areas. Go into the first lot on your right (“Lot #1”), and drive to its far left corner. Continue through Lot #3 and ahead to an unpaved parking area, where the group will meet

References: DeLorme NJ Atlas, Page 54; Nature Places of Gloucester County, NJ, Page 51.

Leader: Lloyd Shaw. 856-986-0681

COLD BROOK RESERVE

Cold Brook Reserve, located in Tewksbury Township,  is open from sunrise to sunset. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this park.

Directions from the Clinton area:  Take Interstate 78 east to Exit 24, Oldwick/Whitehouse.

Proceed north from this exit on Route 523 towards Oldwick.

Continue straight on Route 517 when Route 523 turns to the right.

After passing through the center of Oldwick, you will see the park entrance on the left.

Meet at the gravel parking lot located on the right side of the driveway.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

The meeting place will be the parking lot of the Wawa in Millville, which is located on Route 49, just 0.3 miles west of Exit 24 off of Route 55.

To reach this point, take the Garden State Parkway, and get on the Atlantic City Expressway heading toward Philadelphia.

Exit onto Route 54, and take it south to Route US40, and then cross 40, where the extension of Route 54 becomes County Road 619.

Lincoln Avenue forks off to the left shortly. Follow Lincoln Ave. to Route 55.

Take 55 to Exit 24, and head west on route 49 to the Wawa store.

NOTE: If anyone from the north wishes to carpool with the leader, Susan Phelon, they can meet her at 6:00am at the commuter parking lot at Exit 105 from the Garden State Parkway in Eatontown.

DEEP CUT GARDENS

NOTE: Internet maps and printed maps may not reflect the recent road changes near the intersection of Red Hill Rd. and the Garden State Parkway!

Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 114.

If you are coming from the North, turn left at the light at the end of the exit ramp. Go to the next light (across the Parkway, where the exit for the northbound lanes is). After this light, there will be signs guiding you to take the next turn right for "North Red Hill Rd."

If you are coming from the South, turn right at the light at the end of the exit ramp. Immediately after this turn you will see the signs guiding you to the right turn for "North Red Hill Rd."

Almost immediately after turning right, you will see a sign to take the street on the left -- this is now the beginning of Red Hill Road going North.

Deep Cut Gardens are on the right 1.3 miles beyond this point.

DOUBLE TROUBLE STATE PARK (OCEAN COUNTY)

From the north:

Take the Garden State Parkway south to Exit 77.

At the end of the exit ramp, turn left.

Travel south on Double Trouble Road to a traffic signal.

The Park entrance is straight ahead across Pinewald Keswick Road.

From the south:

Take the Garden State Parkway north to Exit 77.

At the end of the exit ramp, turn left.

Travel 1/4 mile to the Park entrance on the left.

FORSYTHE (BRIGANTINE) National Wildlife Refuge

From the north: take the Garden State Parkway south to Exit 48.

Proceed south on Route 9 for approximately 6 miles (through Smithville and past a strip mall on the left) to a traffic light in Oceanville by the post office. Look for a refuge sign.

Turn left on Great Creek Road and proceed to the refuge parking lot. We meet outside the restrooms and sightings book building.

From the south: take the Garden State Parkway north, exiting at the Atlantic City Service Area at Mile 42.

Drive to the far end of the service area, following signs to Jimmy Leeds Rd.

Turn right on Jimmy Leeds Rd. and take it about 0.4 miles.

Go left onto Great Creek Rd., and follow it several miles to the refuge entrance.

GARRET MOUNTAIN/RIFLE CAMP PARK

Take the Garden State Parkway north to Exit 155P, which is a left exit.

Proceed north (stay straight) on Route 19 for about 2 miles to I-80, following signs for I-80 west.

Take I-80 west for about one mile to the Squirrelwood Road, Exit 56.

Follow signs for Squirrelwood Road, West Paterson. You want to take the ramp over the interstate to the south side of I-80.

Once you're on the south side of I-80 on Squirrelwood Road, proceed 1.2 miles.

A landmark is a Sunoco gas station on the right. As soon as you reach the gas station, look to your left for the second driveway immediately after passing the gas station. Turn left there for Rifle Camp Park.

Proceed up the hill for about a 1/4 mile to the theater parking lot on the right. (There is a sign for it.) We meet here in the parking lot, near the restrooms.

GLASSBORO WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

Although there are four entrances to the WMA, the most accessible is the western entrance off Rt. 47 at Carpenter Ave., a good dirt road that bisects the tract. To reach this entrance:

From northern New Jersey, take the New Jersey Turnpike south to Exit 3 (Camden). Stay left after going through the tollbooth and merge onto Rt. 168 South (Black Horse Pike). Go about 0.9 miles to Rt. 41 and turn right. Follow Rt. 41 south for 5 miles to Rt. 47, then continue straight ahead on Rt. 47. After 5.8 miles you will pass the turnoff for U.S. 322 West. From here it is about 1.2 miles to Stanger Ave. on the left, one of the entrances to the woods. If you continue past Stanger 0.5 miles, you will come to a dirt road on the left with a red gas pipeline marker on the corner. This is Carpenter Ave.; the Gloucester County Road Department is just beyond it on the right. [DeLorme 62, C-9]

Alternatively, take I-295 to Exit 26 (Rt. 42, the North-South Freeway), follow Rt. 42 for about 1.7 miles, and exit onto Rt. 55 South. Go about 10 miles to Exit 56 (US 322) and take US 322 East for 3 miles to the junction with Rt. 47. Turn right onto Rt. 47 and drive 1.7 miles to Carpenter Ave.

From coastal New Jersey, take the Atlantic City Expressway north to Exit 38 (Sicklerville). Turn left onto Sicklerville Rd. (Spur Rt. 536), and go about 2 miles to US 322. Turn right onto US 322 West and go 7 miles to the intersection with Rt. 47 in Glassboro. Carpenter Ave. is 1.7 miles south (left) on Rt. 47.

GREAT PIECE MEADOWS

Meet in the Levitz parking lot on Route 46 in Fairfield, Essex County.

Directions:

From the south, take the Garden State Parkway north.

To get on Route 46 going west, you exit the GSP at Exit 153B (Route 3), which will take you to 46.

Take Route 46 west, watching for the LEVITZ sign in big red letters. It is just before the Fairfield Road exit in Fairfield, Essex County.

(Do NOT take the "Fairfield Road, Wayne" exit near the Willowbrook Mall; instead, continue west past this until you find the Levitz parking lot.)

HARTSHORNE WOODS

From the north:

Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 117 (Keyport, Route 36).

Go east on Route 36 through Atlantic Highlands and Highlands.

As you approach the Highlands-Seabright Bridge look for a restaurant on the right called “Off The Hook”; just past this make a right (the last turn before the bridge) onto Portland Road.

Follow Portland road past some houses, around a right-hand curve and through a forested area to the parking area at the Rocky Point Section of Hartshorne Woods.   Note that the meeting location is near Henry Hudson High School & Twin Lights, not on Navesink Ave., (the main parking lot).

From the south on Route 36:

NOTE: These directions include a detour from the normal route due to road closing caused by bridge construction. [Based on Sept. 2010 road conditions.]

Follow Route 36 across the new bridge at the base of Sandy Hook.

Proceed to the first traffic signal (Miller Ave.) and turn right.

Go 2 blocks to the stop sign at Bay Ave.

Turn right on Bay Ave. and take it for several blocks.

When the road forks (by Bahr’s Restaurant), stay to the left.

This route has circled you around to pass under the new bridge. After going under the new bridge, immediately turn right.

Go one block and turn left onto Portland Street at the stop sign.

Continue on Portland Street to the park.

HIGH POINT STATE PARK

Take Route 23 north to High Point State Park.

High Point SP is 21 miles beyond Rt. 515, 12 miles beyond Rt. 94 in Hamburg, and 8 miles beyond the center of the town of Sussex.

High Point SP is at the highest point on Rt. 23. You will proceed up a steep hill beginning in Colesville.

At the crest of the hill, on the right is the entrance to the state park and on the left is the park visitor center.

Turn left into the visitor center parking lot. Use the small duck pond in front of the parking lot of the visitor center as a landmark.

If you start to descend the hill on the other side you have gone too far.

HOLMDEL PARK

Meet at the Holmdel Park shelter building at Longstreet Farm, Longstreet Road, Holmdel. The nearest Garden State Parkway exit is #114.

JOHNSON AND DE LEA SOD FARMS

See SALEM COUNTY - Pedricktown for meeting place.

LAKEHURST NAVAL AIR ENGINEERING STATION

We will meet in the parking lot of the Cathedral of the Air near the gate to the naval base.

****DUE TO MILITARY RESTRICTIONS AND THE SIZE OF OUR GROUP, CARPOOLING WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY INSIDE THE NAVAL BASE. Bring a photo ID; drivers must also have registration and insurance cards with them.****

WHAT TO BRING: optics (scopes are useful for distant sparrows here) lunch, plenty of fluids, hat, sunscreen, insect repellant.

From the North:

Take the N.J. Turnpike to the Garden State Parkway South.

Leave the GSP at Exit 88 (Route 70 West

Take  Route 70 West for about 9 miles.  (You will pass Route 9 along the way.

About a half mile past the point where Route 37 merges (from the left) with Route 70, you will come to a McDonalds on the left and a diner on the right.

Turn right here onto Route 547.  The road quickly forks, so stay left on 547.

In less than a 1/4 mile on the left you will see the large parking lot for the Cathedral of the Air

From the South:

Leave the Garden State Parkway at Exit 82 onto Route 37 West.

Turn right on Route 547 and follow the instructions above.

MEADOWLANDS

Meet at DeKorte Environmental Center.

Take Exit 16W off the NJ Turnpike (Secaucus & Rutherford).

Follow Route 3 west to Route 17 south (about 1.5 miles). Turn onto the Route 17 south ramp.

The ramp will cross back over Route 3 and come to a traffic light (Polito Ave.). There will be a sign directing you to De Korte.

Turn left; then go to Valley Brook Rd. and turn left again.

The parking lot for the De Korte Center and the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission (HMDC) is about 1.75 miles further along Valley Brook Road.

Once there, park in the southeast corner of the lot (beyond the building).

MERRILL CREEK RESERVOIR

Merrill Creek Reservoir is in the northwestern part of the state, close to the Pennsylvania border. After birding at the reservoir, the group will caravan to other field trip birding locations

Follow Interstate 78 to Exit 4 and take Route 637 North.

After less than 2 miles, turn right onto Route 638 and follow this until you reach Route 57 (approx. 2.5 miles).

Cross Route 57 and follow Montana Road.

After approximately 2 miles you reach a fork in the road. Bear left.

After 0.3 miles, turn left onto Merrill Creek Road and follow signs for the Visitor Center.

MONMOUTH BEACH CULTURAL CENTER

The center is located at 128 Ocean Avenue, Monmouth Beach, New Jersey 07750.

From the South: take the Garden State Parkway, getting off at Exit 105.

Head east on NJ Route 36 to Ocean Boulevard in Long Branch (approx. 5 miles).

Continuuing on Rt. 36, turn left (north) and follow Ocean Blvd. to the Center (approx. 3 miles) on left or west side of Ocean Avenue (NJ Hwy. 36).

From the North: take The Garden State Parkway, getting off at Exit 117.

Head east on NJ Rt. 36 to Ocean Avenue in Monmouth Beach (approx. 15 miles), to the Center, on right or west side of Ocean Avenue just past the southern border of Sea Bright.

From the West: take NJ Route 18 to the Eatontown Exit.

Head east on NJ Route 36 to Ocean Boulevard in Long Branch (approx. 5 miles).

Continuuing on Route 36, turn left (north) and follow to Center (approx. 3 miles) on left or west side of Ocean Avenue (NJ Hwy. 36).

NORTH SHORE/MANASQUAN INLET

Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 98, and get on Rt. 34 South until it merges with Rt. 35 (approx. 4 miles).

Continue south on Rt. 35 and cross the Manasquan River Bridge.

After the bridge, stay in the left lane, and then take the first left and U-turn onto Rt. 35 North.

Take the first right onto Broadway. (There is a boat dealership on your left as you make the turn.)

Continue on Broadway until you cross a small bridge and come to a stop sign.

Go straight after the stop sign, and park in the angled parking on both sides of the street.

OLD MINE ROAD

Meet at the parking lot, Kittatinny Point Visitor Center, Delaware Water Gap NRA.

DIRECTIONS: Travel west on Interstate 80, exiting at Exit 1 (Old Mine Road exit – the last exit in New Jersey). Turn left at the bottom of the exit ramp and follow the road to the Visitor Center.

PALMYRA COVE NATURE PARK

The park is located at the base of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, which crosses the Delaware River from Burlington County, NJ, to the Philadelphia area.

From Central New Jersey:  Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 98.  Follow signs to get on Interstate 195 heading West.

Take I-195 west to the NJ Turnpike.

Get on the NJ Turnpike heading south.

After approximately 25 miles, leave the turnpike at Exit 4, getting on Route 73 heading north towards the Tacony-Palmyra bridge.

Just before the bridge at the last traffic light (about 5 miles after getting on Route 73), make a right turn onto Souder Street.

Shortly thereafter (approximately 300 yards), turn left onto Temple Boulevard.

The entrance to the Bridge Authority parking lot is on the right.

After entering this lot, proceed past the buildings and follow a dirt road to the river.

The group will meet at a parking lot on the right.

PARKER PRESERVE (PINE BARRENS)

Meet at the Chatsworth fire house, which is at the intersection of routes 532 and 563 in Chatsworth.

From Route 72 southeast of the Four Mile traffic circle where Rt 72 meets Rt 70, take 72 southeast to Route 563. Turn right on Route 563, and drive 3.8 miles south to Chatsworth; fire house is located on right at intersection with Rt 532. Park in back of fire house in unpaved parking area.

Bring knee-high rubber boots if you have them. And bring all the food and water you will need for a trip running to about 3 p.m., as there are no local stores.

Rick Radis

973.586.0845 (H)

973.479.4807 (cell)

isotria@verizon.net

PINE BARRENS (WARREN GROVE)  NOTE:  Oct. 3 pinelands trip starts at Lucille's.

Meet at Lucille's Country Cooking on Route 539 in Warren Grove, NJ.

This may be reached via the Garden State Parkway, Exit 58. Go north on 539 to Warren Grove.

Or: From the Garden State Parkway, take Exit 88 to Route 70 west. Go through Lakehurst. Take 539 south (a left turn) at Whiting, south to Warren Grove.

Or: From Interstate 195 east or west, take 539 south. You will pass through Allentown. Continue south to Warren Grove.

NOTE: Knee-high rubber boots should be brought by those who wish to explore Webbs Mills away from the boardwalk.

In case of problems finding the meeting location, or if the group has already left when you reach Lucille's, call the leader Rick Radis at 973-479-4807.

RED BANK BATTLEFIELD PARK

The park is located at 100 Hessian Avenue, National Park, NJ 08063 (856) 853-5120

Directions:

Access I-295 from the north or south.

Take Exit 22, County Road 644 JCT toward WOODBURY/RED BANK.

Take the County Road 644 ramp toward RED BANK.

Turn slightly right onto Red Bank Ave. (CR 644)

Turn slightly left onto Hessian Ave. (County Road 642) and proceed for 1.2 miles.

End at 100 Hessian Avenue, National Park, NJ 08063.

ROUND VALLEY RESERVOIR

Meet at the parking area of the northern boat launch area, just off County Road 629.

Leader: Terry Carruthers, 908-787-7299

SALEM COUNTRY - PEDRICKTOWN

From northern New Jersey, take the NJ Turnpike south to Exit 2 (Swedesboro).

Go west on U.S. Rt. 322 about 4 miles and get onto I-295 heading south.

Take I-295 about 1.6 miles to Exit 10 (Center Square Rd.)

Go west (a right turn) on Center Square Rd.

The first crossroads (about a mile down Center Square Rd.) is Pedricktown Road. (The sign may be missing.)

Turn left here, and proceed about a mile to the marsh. Park off the road just before you cross the causeway over the marsh (at the east end of the causeway). Do NOT park on the causeway itself.

From the Philadelphia area, take either I-76 or I-676 to I-295, and get on I-295 going south. Then pick up the instructions in the third paragraph above.

From southern NJ, take the Atlantic City Expressway west, and get on I-295 going south. Then pick up the instructions in the third paragraph above.

SANDY HOOK

From the North: Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 117 and proceed on Route 36 South for 13 miles to the entrance to Sandy Hook - Gateway National Recreation Area

From the South: Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 105 and proceed on Route 36 North.

The road will take you in an easterly direction until you reach Ocean Avenue, where you and Route 36 North both make a left turn.

Proceed north on Ocean Avenue for 5.5 miles to the entrance to Sandy Hook - Gateway National Recreation Area

Once you reach the park: Proceed straight into the park on Hartshorne Drive. A fee is charged for parking in beach access lots from 7 AM to 4 PM, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Tell the toll booth attendant that you are visiting the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory or that you are birding and not parking in beach access lots, and they will waive the entrance fee. The only free parking areas are the Visitor Center, Horseshoe Cove (both lots), Guardian Park, and Fort Hancock.

Most trips at Sandy Hook begin at the Bayberry Parking Lot, the first one on the right after you pass the toll/entrance booths.

For trips that meet in the parking lot of the Gateway Visitor Center, proceed about 2 miles north of Bayberry.

For Guardian Park, you will continue north 2.5 miles, passing the Ranger Station (the only building in the center island of the road).

After another 1.2 miles, bear left along the bay (west) side as Atlantic Drive forks right on the east side heading to the beaches.

Continue north on Hartshorne Drive for another 0.8 miles, bearing right at a fork. You will see the model rocket in Guardian Park in front of you. Shortly after the right turn, turn left into Parking Lot M (Guardian Park).

SOURLAND MOUNTAINS PRESERVE

Call Leader Brian Clough at 201-317-6018

Meet in the  parking lot on Fiddler's Creek Rd in Titusville.   Fiddler's Creek Rd is off of route 29 approximately 5 miles north of Trenton and 3 miles south of Lambertville. There is a large gravel parking lot about 750 ft up Fiddler's Creek rd on the left from the intersection with route 29. It is well-signed as Mercer County Park property.

  If coming from the Monmouth County Area, I would think that taking route 1 to I-95 and then taking the exit for route 29/river rd before crossing into PA would be best.

  If you enter "Fiddlers Creek Rd, Titusville, NJ 08560" as your destination in google maps, it will direct to you to the proper road, then see above to find the parking lot.

STOKES STATE FOREST

Meet at the main office of Stokes State Forest, which is on Route 206 in Sussex County, approximately 8 miles north of the intersection of 206 and Route 94/Route 15.

As you are heading up 206, you'll pass Culver's lake on your right. The turn for the main office is on the right and is well marked.

Address:
1 Coursen Road
Branchville, NJ 07826

SUNRISE MOUNTAIN

Sunrise Mountain is located within Stokes State Forest in Sussex County, NJ.

Directions:

Take Route 206 north past Branchville, NJ.

Just after passing Culver's Lake, turn right onto Route 636 (aka Upper North Shore Road).

After about a quarter of a mile, take a left onto Sunrise Mountain Road, and follow it about 4 miles.

Follow signs to the Sunrise Mountain parking lot (a right turn and somewhat under another mile of travel).

SUPAWNA MEADOWS NWR

Supawna Meadows NWR is located approximately 35 miles south of Philadelphia,  PA, in Pennsville, New Jersey.

From Interstate 295:  take exit 1C, Salem County Route 551.

Follow Route 551 south to its end at New Jersey Route 49.

Turn left onto Route 49 east.

Go approximately one mile on Route 49 east to the first road on the right, Lighthouse Road. Turn right on Lighthouse Road.

Turn left at the sign for the refuge office. A number of directional signs are located along the route.

From the NJ Turnpike ( a bit trickier):

 Take Exit 1 and go south on Rt 49.

Very soon you make a sharp left turn onto North Hook Road (Lippincott Avenue is another but less sharp turn at the same intersection).

After approximately 0.5 miles North Hook Road turns into Route 551. 

Follow Route 551 south to its end at New Jersey Route 49.

Turn left onto Route 49 east.

Go approximately one mile on Route 49 east to the first road on the right, Lighthouse Road. Turn right on Lighthouse Road.

Turn left at the sign for the refuge office. A number of directional signs are located along the route.

TURKEY SWAMP PARK

Turkey Swamp Park is located at 200 Georgia Road in Freehold Township.

From Route 9 in Freehold, take County Road 524 west at the Golden Bell Diner.

Continue west on 524 past Freehold Regional High School.

Turn left at the light for Georgia Road.

Continue on Georgia Road for approximately 1.7 miles to the main entrance of the park on the right.

Once in the park, continue to the Oak Point Parking Area, where there is a shelter building and campground office. We will meet just outside the shelter building.

Leader: Andrew Spears
Cell: (732) 801-1404

WALLKILL RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Meet at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters.

Take I-287 north to Route 23 north.

Proceed north on Route 23 for approximately 25 miles to the Sussex Queen Diner, at the intersection of Route 23 and Route 565 North (with traffic light).

Turn right onto Rt. 565 North and follow this for approximately one mile, where you will see the refuge headquarters on your left.

Turn left into the parking lot and park close to the bathrooms.

WARREN GROVE (PINE BARRENS) See Pine Barrens (Warren Grove)